Marking template

ABSTRACT

A marking template is provided including four locating pins projecting from four corner portions of a rear face of a rectangular plate for engagement in the inside of four corners of an electrical outlet box and including four marking pins projecting forwardly from the forward face of the plate and having sharply pointed ends for making marking indentations in the rear face of a wall covering sheet pressed thereagainst. The plate has an open central portion for clearance of electrical devices and, in one embodiment, the marking and locating pins are adjustably mounted in slots of the plate for accommodating outlet boxes of different sizes.

United States Patent 1191 Goosen MARKING TEMPLATE [76] Inventor: RichardH. Goosen, 1705 Lake Ave., R.R, No. l, Holton, Mich. 49425 22 Filed:Dec. 9, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 530,715

[52] US. Cl 30/366; 33/DIG. 10

[51] Int. Cl. B26F l/24 [58] Field of Search 30/558, 361, 366, 368;33/DIG. 10; 29/271 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,812l/l957 Mohr 33/DIG. [0

2,887,776 5/1959 Eisner 30/366 X 3,745,664 7/l973 Altseimer 33/DlG. l0

ent sizes.

[ Dec. 9, 1975 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner.l.C. Peters Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrezina & Lund [57] ABSTRACT A markingtemplate is provided including four locating pins projecting from fourcorner portions of a rear face of a rectangular plate for engagement inthe inside of four corners of an electrical outlet box and includingfour marking pins projecting forwardly from the forward face of theplate and having sharply pointed ends for making marking indentations inthe rear face of a wall covering sheet pressed thereagainst. The platehas ah open central portion for clearance of electrical devices and, inone embodiment, the marking and locating pins are adjustably mounted inslots of the plate for accommodating outlet boxes of differ- 5 Claims, 4Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 3,924,331

MARKING TEMPLATE This invention relates to marking templates and moreparticularly to marking templates which facilitate accurate cutting ofrigid wall covering sheets for access to electrical outlet boxes. Thetemplates are readily used and are simple and economicallymanufacturable.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART In installing rigid sheets of wall coveringmaterial such as wallboard, sheetrock, drywall, panelling and the likeit is frequently necessary to provide openings for access to electricaldevices such as switches or outlets mounted in electrical outlet boxes.The location of the position of the required opening has been difficultand time-consuming, requiring measurement of the position of the outletbox from fixed points on the wall, recording of the measurement,measuring on the sheet of wall covering material, and laying out andinscribing marking lines on the sheet for cutting.

Because of the number of steps involved, mistakes are frequently madeand if the opening is inaccurately cut, even with an error on the orderof l2 inch or less, the sheet may be ruined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention was evolved with the generalobject of overcoming the problems previously encountered in connectionwith cutting of holes in wall covering sheets for access to electricaloutlet boxes.

In accordance with this invention, locating means project from therearward face of a plate for engagement with an electrical outlet box toaccurately position the plate on the box, and marking means project fromthe forward face of the plate and are arranged to make a mark on therearward face of a wall covering sheet pressed thereagainst. In use, thedevice can simply be mounted on the outlet box, the wall covering sheetcan be placed in the desired location and pressed against the markingmeans of the device, after which an opening may be cut in the sheetaccording to the marking made on the rear face thereof.

According to a specific feature, the plate is generally rectangular andthe marking means comprise four marking pin means projecting forwardlyin parallel relation from four comer portions of the plate, the markingsmdde by the pins defining the rectangular area to be cut out of the wallcovering sheet. Preferably, the pin means has sharply pointed ends formaking marking indentations on the rearward face of the sheet pressedthereagainst.

According to another important specific feature, the locating meanscomprise four locating pins arranged to engage inside four comerportions of the outlet box. Such locating means are highly advantageousin that they can be used even with electrical devices such as switchesor outlets already installed in the outlet box, there being clearancebetween such devices and the corner portions of the box.

According to another feature, the plate has an open central portion forclearing electrical devices mounted in the box and the plate is alsoformed to provide recesses in the rearward face thereof for clearing theheads of screws used for mounting the electrical devices in a box.

In one embodiment, the marking and locating means are fixed according tothe size of an electrical outlet 2 box to be used. This embodiment isparticularly advantageous for use by electrical contractors, forexample, using one standard type of box.

In another embodiment, the marking and locating means are adjustablymounted, preferably be means engaged in four slots extending angularlyfrom four corner portions of the plate toward a central portion of thearea defined by the plate.

This invention contemplates other objects, features and advantages whichwill become more fully apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa marking template constructed in accordance with the invention, shownmounted on an electrical outlet box;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line II-II of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a different embodiment of markingtemplate according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IVIV of FIG.3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference numeral 10 generallydesignates a marking template constructed in accordance with theprinciples of this invention, shown mounted on an electrical outlet box11. The template 10 comprises a plate 12 having forward and rearwardfaces 13 and 14. Locating means project rearwardly from the rearwardface 13 of the plate 12 for engagement with the outlet box 11 toaccurately position the plate 12 relative thereto. Preferably, suchlocating means comprise four pins 15-18 projecting rearwardly inparallel relation from four corner portions of the plate 12 andengageable in the inside of four corner portions of the outlet box 11.It will be understood that electrical devices such as switches oroutlets are normally positioned in an outlet box mounted in a wall andit is found that there are clearance spaces between such devices in thefour inside corner portions of the box, into which the pins 15-18 mayreadily extend.

Marking means extend forwardly from the forward face 14 of the plate 12for making marks on the rearward face of a wall cove ring sheet pressedthereagainst. Preferably, such marking means comprise four pins 19-22projecting forwardly in parallel relation from the forward face 14 ofthe plate 12, pins 19-22 having sharply pointed ends as illustrated, formaking marking indentations in the rear face of a wall covering sheetpressed thereagainst.

The plate 12 preferably has a central opening 24 for clearance withrespect to electrical devices mounted in the outlet box 11 andintermediate portions 25 and 26 at the upper and lower ends of the plate12 may be deformed outwardly as illustrated to define recesses forclearance of the heads of screws used for mounting electrical devices inthe box 11.

In operation, the device 10 is simply inserted into an outlet boxmounted on a wall, engaging the pins 15-18 in the insides of the fourcomers of the box. Then a wall covering sheet is held in the positioninto which it is to be mounted and is pressed rearwardly to cause thepointed ends of the pins 19-22 to make marking indentations in the rearface of the sheet. An opening may then be readily cut in the sheet atthe proper location,

as by drilling holes as determined by the indentations made by the pins19-22 and then sawing with a sabre saw or the like.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the locating pins l8 and markingpins 19-22 are rigidly mounted on the plate 12 as by using a drive fit.This type of construction is satisfactory for most applications in whichone standard type of outlet box is used and is especially advantageousfor electrical contractors, for example, who may make it a practice toinstall only one standard type of box. However, it is desirable to haveone device which can accommodate different sizes of outlet boxes and inFIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 28 generally designates a markingtemplate constructed in accordance with the principles of this inventionand which is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of outlet boxes.

In the device 28, a plate 29 is provided, similar to the plate 12 andhaving a central opening 30 for clearance of electrical devices, withintermediate portions 31 and 32 at the upper and lower ends beingdeformed forwardly to provide recesses for clearance of the heads ofelectrical device mounting screws. Four marking pins 33-36 are providedwhich are mounted on plates 37-40 having slots therein with screws 4144extending therethrough to mount the plates 37-40 on the plate 29 withthe shank portions of such screws serving as locating pins. As shown inFIG. 4, screw 4d has a head portion 45 on the outside of the plate 37and a shank portion 46 extending through a slot 47 in the plate 37 andthence through a slot 48 in the plate 29 with a nut 49 being threaded onthe shank portion 46 of the screw 41. With the nut 49 loosened, theshank portion 46 can be moved in the slot 48 to the position requiredfor engagement in a corner portion of an outlet box of the size to beused and the plate 37 may be moved inwardly or outwardly or swung asdesired to properly locate the marking pin 33, after which the nut 49may be tightened to fixthe positions of the marking pin 33 and the shankportion 46, serving as a locating pin. The slot 48 and similar slots inthe other comer portions of the plate 29 preferably extend inwardlytoward a central portion of the area defined by the plate 29.

It will be understood that modification and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts ofthis invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for facilitating accurate cutting of openings in rigidwall covering sheets for access to a conventional electrical outlet box,a plate having rearward and forward faces, locating means projectingfrom said rearward face for engagement with said outlet box toaccurately position said plate on said box, and marking means projectingfrom said forward face and arranged to make the mark on the rearwardface of a wall covering sheet pressed thereagainst, said plate beinggenerally rectangular, said marking means comprising four rigid markingpins and means for securely fastening said marking pins to said plate toproject forwardly in parallel relation from four corner portions of saidforward face of said plate, said rigid marking pins having sharplypointed ends in a plane parallel to said plate for making markingindentations on the rearward face of a wall covering sheet pressedthereagainst, and said locating means comprising four generallycylindrical rigid locating pins and means for securely fastening saidmarking pins to said plate to project rearwardly in parallel relationfrom said rearward face of said plate, said locating pins being arrangedto engage inside four corner portions of said outlet box.

2. In a device as defined in claim 1, said plate having four slots insaid four corner portions thereof each extending angularly inwardlytoward a central portion of the area defined by said plate, and meansmounted for adjustable movement in said slots for adjustably securingsaid marking pin means in relation to said slots.

3. In a device as defined in claim 1, said plate being generallyrectangular and having four slots in four corner portions thereof eachextending angularly inwardly toward a central portion of the areadefined by said plate, and means mounted for adjustable movement in saidslots or for adjustably securing said locating pin means in relation tosaid slots.

4. In a device as defined in claim 1, said plate having an open centralportion for clearing electrical devices mounted in said outlet box.

5. In a device as defined in claim 4, wherein said outlet box includesholes for receiving mounting screws for electrical devices, said platebeing formed to provide recesses in said rearward face for clearing theheads of mounting screws in said holes.

1. In a device for facilitating accurate cutting of openings in rigidwall covering sheets for access to a conventional electrical outlet box,a plate having rearward and forward faces, locating means projectingfrom said rearward face for engagement with said outlet box toaccurately position said plate on said box, and marking means projectingfrom said forward face and arranged to make the mark on the rearwardface of a wall covering sheet pressed thereagainst, said plate beinggenerally rectangular, said marking means comprising four rigid markingpins and means for securely fastening said marking pins to said plate toproject forwardly in parallel relation from four corner portions of saidforward face of said plate, said rigid marking pins having sharplypointed ends in a plane parallel to said plate for making markingindentations on the rearward face of a wall covering sheet pressedthereagainst, and said locating means comprising four generallycylindrical rigid locating pins and means for securely fastening saidmarking pins to said plate to project rearwardly in parallel relationfrom said rearward face of said plate, said locating pins being arrangedto engage inside four corner portions of said outlet box.
 2. In a deviceas defined in claim 1, said plate having four slots in said four cornerportions thereof each extending angularly inwardly toward a centralportion of the area defined by said plate, and means mounted foradjustable movement in said slots for adjustably securing said markingpin means in relation to said slots.
 3. In a device as defined in claim1, said plate being generally rectangular and having four slots in fourcorner portions thereof each extending angularly inwardly toward acentral portion of the area defined by said plate, and means mounted foradjustable movement in said slots or for adjustably securing saidlocating pin means in relation to said slOts.
 4. In a device as definedin claim 1, said plate having an open central portion for clearingelectrical devices mounted in said outlet box.
 5. In a device as definedin claim 4, wherein said outlet box includes holes for receivingmounting screws for electrical devices, said plate being formed toprovide recesses in said rearward face for clearing the heads ofmounting screws in said holes.